Archives for November 2015

If you want to find out how Schiit Audio came to be, the two cofounders wrote a 383 page book chronicling their adventures. This book is currently on sale in e-book format for the Kindle for $5. The paperback goes for $15, so you can save big by doing digital. It averages 4.7 out of 5 based on 9 customer reviews, none lower than the 3-stars. So no one found the book …schiiity [sorry, I couldn’t resist!]. The ebook can also be loaned to other Amazon users using the Kindle system infrastructure.

IF you don’t need a headphone bundled with your Fiio digital audio player, Adorama’s Cyber Monday offers have an option for that as well. For $160 with free shipping, you get the Fiio X3 2nd Generation bundled with a 64GB Samsung microSDXC memory card and 5% reward (about $9 to use on a future purchase over there). This is the orange “EVO” Samsung card, so it can survive some of the elements. In other words, don’t start crying if it drops while trying to change memory cards 🙂

The Audio Technica M50x offers continue to roll along the interwebs. A new net-low for the headphones, you can get them in new condition for $120 by Buydig on eBay and 2-4 weeks later you will also receive a $30 prepaid VISA gift card. Given that most people can easily spend a $30 VISA gift card on regular purchases, it becomes a virtual net $90 on the headphones.

Alternately you can get the headphones and the $30 gift card (but shipping in 4-6 weeks) with the Fiio E6 added for $135. So you would be adding the E6 for just +$15. You can’t find it less than $20 in new condition from authorized dealers.

The KRK KNS 6400 closed-back over-ear studio headphones can be yours for $79~ when you enter coupon code MUSIC20OFF at Amazon sold by Amazon actual. The coupon is 20% off the current price, so if the price changes, the discount will change as well.

We have some good news, the Amazon coupon MUSIC20OFF that gets you 20% off on the current prices of over 7000 Music Instruments that includes some headphones has been extended until 12/5/15… Previously it was set to expire on 11/28/15…

NOTE: as it is often the case, the coupon only applies to items sold and shipped by Amazon.com actual. It does NOT apply to items sold by marketplace sellers over there (new or used)…

The closed-back over-ear Audio Technica M40x are currently on sale for $67 at Amazon by Amazon actual. This is not a lightning deal but either a longer term sale or a price-match of other retailers. A number of the marketplace sellers have it for $67 as well… These average 4.6 out of 5 based on 530+ customer reviews and have over 175 questions peer-answered over there…

The Shure SE 215 in-ears stubbornly hold on to $100 most of the time at authorized dealers, but during the Black-Cyber festivities, they are on sale for $89 with free shipping in the black or transparent color schemes at Amazon’s website… Meanwhile the “lucent blue” special edition is on sale for $103 by marketplace sellers with the orders fulfilled by Amazon…

The bluetooth (wireless) Beats Solo 2 headphones is on sale for $200 with free shipping at Amazon.com [updated link to show eligible colors]… These average 4.5 out of 5 based on 370+ customer reviews. They fold inwards.

More AT discounts. The ATH-M70X closed-back over-ears are now down to $190 with free shipping at authorized dealer Adorama.com. It will be interesting to see how the introduction of the M70x impacts the legacy of the M50/M50x as these things (such as hype) work in mysterious ways, and sometimes an addition may create a disturbance in the force instead of have a cumulative effect.

More discounting on the V-Moda front! The phantom-chrome color scheme of the closed-back over-ear V-Moda Crossfade M100 headphones, in new condition, in on sale for $150 at the official Microsoft Store.

UPDATE: two of the three colors go for $150 at Aamzon by Amazon actual but the shipping estimate is an unpredictable “1-2 months”.

UPDATE: the price remains $97 but as of 11/29/15, all colors are out of stock and cannot be ordered at this time… They are back on, you can get the new condition closed-back on-ear Beats Solo 2 headphones for $97 in six different color schemes at the official Microsoft Store.

This lightning deal expired: In progress at the moment among the featured lightning deals at Amazon is the new condition black Beats Solo 2 On-Ears for $97. This is the one that climbed the Innerfidelity Wall of Fame and created audiophile existential crises.

The M40x, hiding under the shadow of the Audio Technica M50x has its very own sale as well, you can get it for $65 with free S&H at Adorama.com.

Speaking of the M50x, it goes for $120 at Adorama, but that’s not all, you also receive a $25 Adorama gift certificate. Assuming you can spend the $25 GC on something else in a future purchase, that’s comes out to an effective $95 price. It is available thusly in the black and white color schemes.

We previously mentioned the Audeze bundles, but if you don’t need bundles with other gear, just the headphones, Adorama.com is offering the new condition Audeze LCD-2 planar magnetics for $750 with free shipping.

The closed-back on-ear V-Moda XS headphones are now on sale for $130 with free S&H, with a limit of three per color per customer at Amazon [white silver only!]. These are considered by some a good basshead headphone that does not compromise (too much). It averages 4.4 out of 5 based on 190 customer reviews… UPDATED here 11/29/15…

As of 11/29/15 both color schemes of the Audio Technica ATH-RE700 headphones are on sale for $50 per pair with free shipping, with a limit of three per customer, at Amazon by Amazon actual. UPDATE: previously the brown went for $45, and the other one for $50+…

More Amazon coupon action, entering MUSIC20OFF at checkout drops the price of the AIAIAI TMA-1 Studio headphones from $180 to around $144 at Amazon.com. The coupon expires 11/28/15 and includes nearly 700 items.

Just like the previously mentioned Solo 2s, eBay seller Pangea Deals is offering manufacturer-refurbished Beats Studio 2 headphones in either the black or blue color schemes for $100 with free shipping, with a limit of five per customer. These are wired over-ears, with ANC (active noise cancelling) but no Bluetooth. There is no mention of warranty in the eBay listing.

The Beats Solo 2 on-ears are going to be a $95 doorbuster during the Black Friday madness. If you don’t want to deal with that, or you prefer refurbished, among the latest eBay deals you can get them manufacturer-refurbished for $70 with frees shipping in the black color scheme only by eBay seller Pangea Deals (99.1%). The product description says they were refurbished at a Beats-approved repair facility using OEM equipment for testing. They ship from PA. There is no mention of warranty in the eBay listing.

The silver color scheme of the Audio-Technica PRO5 Mark II DJ Monitors can be yours for $40 with free shippign at Amazon by Amazon actual when you use coupon code MUSIC20OFF over there. The coupon is 20% off the current prices. The current prices may change. The coupon expires 11/28/15. These headphones average 4.5 out of 5 based on 15 customer reviews.

The blue color scheme (they call it black sapphire) of the magnetic bluetooth Samsung Level U earphones is currently on sale for $30 at Amazon. If you are not familiar with them, be sure to check the pictures of their shape and materials, they are U-shaped, as the name suggests… They average 3.6 out of 5 based on 140+ customer reviews over there…

The newer Hifiman HE-400S planar magnetics came out of the gate at $300, and now the previous model, the HE-400i have dropped to $300 as well by various sellers (including Hifiman direct). There are a handful of discussions on these online if you are trying to decide which one to get.

The Hifiman RE-400 (no mic/remote) along with the RE-400a (Android remote/mic) and the RE-400i (Apple devices) are on sale for $59 with free shipping by HifiMan’s Amazon store and other authorized dealers over there.